Outside religion or interior transformation?
When we are being transitioned from outside religion into the body of Christ we see and sense the inward difference the indwelling Christ is making that outside religion fails to make.
Religion works from the outside attempting to legislate morality through a system of regulation, not so with the indwelling Christ.
The outer form of religious behavior modification is only temporarily successful and requires constant trial and error.
The religious control meets resistance of the flesh and the “old man” thus the battle is ongoing.
The religious person is subjected to a constant battle against his “old nature.”
The religious are made dependent upon the religious system for outside guidance and correction. The religious person depends on the “word of God” coming through the mouth of another human being, as corrupt as himself, if not more so.
So the religious person struggles from week to week hungering for some refreshment they might be able to obtain at an institutional meeting.
The religious mindset is an actual addiction to the voice of other human beings, offering them correction and encouragement.
In the elementary stages of the life of the believer, the elementary school of religion has its proper place.
When the father draws the child to himself and transitions them into the body of Christ, there comes a subtle, but permanent change that only can come from the indwelling Christ, not from religion.
The restoration process of the indwelling Christ changes the spiritual perspective of the child of God, and he sees himself and others through a completely different spiritual dimension.
Temptation of the flesh that previously required daily battles and weekly mini revivals changes without the conscious effort of the child, it comes directly from the indwelling Christ.
That which was previously appealing and tempting to the flesh, loses its appeal, and actually takes on a distasteful taste, and fragrance to the body of Christ.